The recently installed Mayor of North Down Borough Andrew Muir invited members of North Down AC to a reception at the Town Hall, The Castle, Bangor on Wedneday 10th July and, after only four weeks in office, we were privileged to be the first organisation to receive this honour. Over a hundred members from all sections of the club were in attendance plus a sprinkling from neighbouring athletics clubs Orangegrove AC and Willowfield TH. Councillor Muir is believed to be the first competing athlete to have been Mayor of a Northern Ireland city or town.
The Mayor said he had been a member of North Down AC for 5 years after running 48 minutes with no training at the 10K race which opened the extended Wesstlink. During that time his 10K time has lowered below 40 min. He had been heavily influenced by club members in his choice of Mayoral Charitoes which are North Down YMCA, Camphill Communities NI and Mark Pollack Trust. Under the Mayoral Theme ‘Working as One’ , he intended to hold a series of Fund Raisers including linked athletic events.
He also promised to investigate the prospects of a Running Trail in Redburn Country Park and of a parkrun in Bangor. As the last Mayor of North Down to serve a full term before amalgamation with Ards Borough Council, he hoped to leave a legacy.
On behalf of the club and in his capacity as Chairman of Athletics Northern Ireland, David Seaton responded to the Mayor’s speech. He wished him all the best for his period in office and thanked him and the Council staff for the invitation and for the organization of the event.